Senegal: Reasons behind the pre-election turmoil

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Society & You - Social Critic
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 13:01

[All links lead to pages in French, unless otherwise indicated.]

Given the turbulent pre-election period for which you are going through Senegal, many observers are concerned that the Senegalese are contributing to a gradual erosion of democracy, a few weeks of the presidential election.

President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal was elected head of state for the first time in 2000 and decided to run for a third term, although this should not be allowed under the Constitution. Many Senegalese are protesting the decision to let several factors apply and concern voters Senegalese.

President Abdoulaye Wade. Image via Wikipedia (CC-license-2.0.

President Abdoulaye Wade. Wikipedia Image (CC-license-2.0).

Fatou Diop stresses the fact that Wade is the oldest candidate in the world :

Le fait est sans doute dans les annales unique de l'histoire mondiale: Me Abdoulaye Wade candidat à l'est, 2012 élection présidentielle pour un mandat de 7 ans à l'âge of ... 86 ans. In filigrane débat politique du actuel, pose the question of the succession sa, you beaucoup vouloir soupçonnent of a troisième mandat pour pouvoir transmettre à son fils you.

The fact is certainly unique in the annals of world history: Mr. Abdoulaye Wade is a candidate in the presidential election of 2012, for a term of seven years at the age of ... 86. Implicit in the current political debate is the issue of succession, many assume that seeking a third term for transmitting power to his son.

Since coming to power in 2000, Abdoulaye Wade has used maneuvers to stay in power. Langangui back to the fact that Wade took the change when he was elected. But his promises were empty and the time for change seems to have ended long ago :

Elu tout juste in 2000, anime-on pensait bonnes intentions il remanie the Constitution. A nouveau texte au lieu instituant du quinquennat you septennat initial, you mandat présidentiel stipulant 'est joins renouvelable seule fois' est I took. Wade avait Chacun compris lui-même serait concerné par cette disposition ait été quoiqu'il an Elu an après la modification du texte constitutionnel. D'ailleurs in 2007, après sa réélection, il qu'il ne se declares publiquement représenterait plus.

Newly elected in 2000, encouraged, it was thought, with good intentions, amending the Constitution. Adopting a new text which instituted a five-year period instead of the original seven years, and stipulated that the presidency "is renewable once." Everyone understood that Wade himself would be included in this provision, on being elected one year before the amendment of the Constitution. Moreover, in 2007 after his reelection, he announced publicly that it would not apply.

The following video was uploaded to YouTube by user on April 6, 2011, and details the intention of President Wade of not standing as a presidential candidate in 2012:

However, Wade countered his words and seek re-election :

C'était bad connaître le Bonhomme. Dans l'Intervalle, in 2008, il à nouveau fit the Constitution modifier réinstaurer pour une fois renouvelable septennat you (vous Suivez?), Avant l'annee d'échouer dernière dans une autre qui tentative of modification constitutionnelle à organizer consistait a scrutin présidentiel à un tour dans un système "ticket présidentiel" à l'américaine (candidat jackets affublé aurait été d'un vice-président, Wade présentant are avec fils Karim, par exemple). Mandats Deux donc, September 1 ans et un autre qui s'achèvent of cinq, mais qu'il a couple prolonger voudrait septennat énième
Quand on Rappelle au «Vieux» sa promesse de ne repond plus, il représenter "Ma Waxoon? Waxeet "(" je l'ai dit, je me Dedis ')' in Wolof, the langue la plus dans le pays Parlee.

The good man was totally misunderstood. In the interval 2008, the Constitution was amended again to reinstate the period of seven years, renewable once (do you follow?) Before failing last year in another attempt at constitutional amendment was to organize a presidential election around in a U.S. style "presidential ticket" (each accompanied by a VP candidate, Wade was presented with his nephew Karim, for example). Thus, it became two terms, one of seven years and one of five years, but wants to extend for a period of seven years nth.
When I remember the "Old Man" of his promise not to run again, said "Ma Waxoon? Waxeet "(" I said, now I take it back ") in Wolof , the language most spoken in the country.

Babacar Ndiaye highlighted the obvious nepotism Wade to take his son Karim to several key government positions :

Le fait le plus Marquant du "règne" Wade certainement est de son fils the mainmise sur l'Etat. Ce qui n'a jamais même fils rendu compte sur l's management of ANOCI et qui, après sa lors des élections defaite inoubliable local 2009 [dans son propre bureau de vote], a été Nõmme au Ministre d'Etat post avec a south empiète portefeuille d'autres qui Ministères. En plus d'être will minister of qui n'est rien coopération internationale d'autre qu'un du ministère des Affaires démembrement Etrangères, il est également de l'énergie will minister, des Transports et des Infrastructures aériens. Il est à la tête d'ainsi a "mini gouvernement» dans le gouvernement. Dans le style pure "Wadien 'il faire s'agissait of a" pied de nez "qui ont sénégalais aux freiné l'ascension du brilliant" Prince "in package of légitimité et de popularité. The raison sur l'Wade évoquée pair d'un tel attribution "super ministère" qu'il est à son fils to "une et particulière rare formation." Il est de la Sorbonne in diplômé et management audit (..) C'est ce népotisme that dénonce rue et l'Opposition to aussi et qui pousse Youssou Ndour chanteur him into Presenter to pour l's candidature élection présidentielle 2012. A qu'il voit comme un acte à l'eGard devoir de ses concitoyens.

The most marked characteristic of the "reign" of Wade is certainly the domain of your child in the state. This same son, who never responded to his administration of the OIC, national agency, after a memorable defeat in local elections, 2009 [in his own polling place] was appointed Minister of State with a portfolio of invading the other ministers. He was also Minister for International Cooperation, which was nothing more than a division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also appointed Minister of Energy, Air Routes and Infrastructure. This is the head of a "mini-government" within the government. In classic style wadiano was a mockery of the Senegalese, stopped the rapid rise of the "Prince" in their search for legitimacy and popularity. The reasons for Wade to give this "super ministry" is that your child has "a unique and special education." He has a degree in auditing and management of the Sorbonne. (...) This is what is alleged nepotism in the streets and prompted the singer Youssou N'Dour to submit his candidacy for the 2012 presidential elections, a move seen as a duty to the people.

Fatou Diop continues :

In june, il avait ènième tempted a tour of passe-passe: une qui devait modification permettre d'élire simultanément a président et vice-président avec a minimum of 25% des suffrages squeeze au premier tour. Une surgical manipulation as you feu aux poudres. Of violent émeutes éclatent Wade et à Dakar Retirer Finit couple will projet.

In June, he tried a trick umpteenth attempt: an amendment that would allow simultaneously choose a president and a vice president with a minimum of 25% of the votes cast in the first round. A manipulation that lit the fuse. Riots erupted in Dakar [see link ] and Wade finished removing the project.

Wade explains that Langangui has mobilized many resources to obtain approval for his candidacy :

S'agissant de l'interdiction lui fait that the Constitution of the Presenter to a troisième mandat il à grands frais des requiert constitutionalistes étrangers. The question of know if the premiere of M. élection Wade, in 2000, entrait pas dans le champ of réforme constitutionnelle, adoptée in 2001 et à deux limitant mandats you name the réponse consécutifs of well entendu fut ces derniers negative. Cinq pourtant constitutionnalistes sénégalais - a membre dont rédaction et du committee of the Constitution - I estimated that cette avaient tous disposition au président devait s'appliquer candidat. "L'esprit et la lettre of the Constitution interdisent a troisième mandat à Wade. C'est pourquoi nous Devons refuser dépôt de sa candidature him, "declared Mounirou avait alors Sy, Professeur à l'université de droit Dakar ...
Vient d'être Ce débat tranche par "cinq du Conseil Constitutionnel Sages" nommés par tous Wade. Ces derniers ont vendredi 27 janvier Hier stated that he is président sortant pouvait Presenter autres avec treize candidats, à l'du 26 février élection présidentielle prochain, invalidant au passage du chanteur the candidature Youssou Ndour (Le Conseil Constitutionnel are refus Motive of valider the candidature of Youssou Ndour in constatant qu'il "to join list of 12,936 produit électeurs appuyant s candidature, dont ont pu être 8,911 seulement et leurs identifiés validées signatures" alors qu'il faut 10,000 au at minimum).
Le choc nouvelle a ete rude, chez les jeunes notamment à Dakar. "If Wade participate aux élections, il n'y aura pas d'élections. If they membres du Conseil Constitutionnel valident s candidature, ils seront tout ce qui responsible adviendra in Senegal »avait averti a militant des droits de l'homme.

In reaction to the constitutional impediment to apply for a third term, made great expense to convene constitutional experts from abroad. To the questions of whether the first election of Wade, in 2000, was under the auspices of the constitutional amendments adopted in 2001, bringing the number of their mandates are limited to two, the response of foreign experts was, of course no. However, five Senegalese constitutional experts - including a member of the Committee which prepared the draft and the Constitution - all considered that the clause should apply to the current president seeking re-election. "The spirit of the text of the Constitution prevents Wade run for a third term. It is for this reason that we must deny your request for bid, "said Sy Mounirou, Professor of Law at the University of Dakar ...
The debate was resolved by "five experts of the Constitutional Council", all appointed by Wade. On Friday 27 January the experts announced that the outgoing president could not run for election, along with thirteen other candidates, on 26 February. At the same time, annulling the nomination of Youssou Ndour (the reason that the Constitutional Council gave for refusing to validate Youssou Ndour's candidacy was that "presented a list of 12.936 voters who supported his candidacy, but they only 8.911 could be identified and verified signatures, "As He will need a minimum of 10,000).
This news came as a shocking news for the youth of Dakar. According to a human rights activist, "if Wade continues in the elections, no election. If members of the Constitutional Council approved his candidacy, will be responsible for the consequences in Senegal. "

On his Facebook page , the Movement June 23 explains the reasons behind the anger:

On n'est pas riches, on n'a pas de pétrole, or d'or, or on a diamond ... mais toujours eu la paix, et notre honneur, Aujourd'hui le Sénégal to tout ça honte ... pourquoi ... looks set to pour Wade, il faut that Karim Wade ... on ne soit Président is laissera jamais faire.

We are not rich, we have no oil, no gold or diamonds ... but we always had our peace and honor, now Senegal is shame ... all for that ... because you should see Karim Wade becoming president ... will never be allowed to do this.

The subsequent protests against the candidacy of Wade have resulted in eight deaths, including a police officer and a girl, another girl has lost vision in one eye. As Vincent Hugueux indicates on his blog, Abdoulaye Wade is glossing over the protests, and describes them as "signs of petulance."

The Movement June 23 met on 11 and 12 February and decided on Tuesday February 14 onwards, the demonstrators occupy the Obelisk Square and will not until Wade withdraw his candidacy. The first round of voting is scheduled for February 26. All candidates, except one, have decided to suspend their campaigns until 16 February and are in talks with the Democratic Party of Senegal, President Wade's game.

Written by Anna Gueye · Translated by Gabriela Garcia Calderon Orbe · View original post [fr] · Comments (0)
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